Action Bronson and Hip-Hop’s Problem with Misogyny

Why do we accept this kind of extreme violence towards women? And why is it so common in rap and hip hop?

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So, this week, former chef turned rapper ‘Action Bronson’ has stirred up controversy again. This isn’t terribly surprising, considering his past, but also considering that more often than not, controversy sells tickets. Except for when it doesn’t, and shows get cancelled when the controversy goes over the top. Even though Bronson’s free NXNE show was cancelled in Toronto this May, he was offered to do a ticketed show instead (Update: I’ve been told he declined this offer). Everyone likes to cash in on controversy apparently.

One of the things I found most disappointing about this, was that evenko’s response was to hide behind a statement saying that “they didn’t censor artists”. I’m fine with not censoring artists. In fact, I don’t like censorship at all, but asking to not support and promote Bronson is not censorship. Censorship would be to tell Bronson that he could play, but he had to change his material or lyrics, or just not play particular songs. Thicens, I would agree is not desirable, and I would not support it. However, not hiring him at all is not censorship. Otherwise, the long list of bands that just weren’t good enough to make it, or who were playing some weird style that nobody would want to see could claim that their rejection was censorship. I think evenko had a clear opportunity to make a statement saying that they weren’t going to support ‘art’ that glorifies violence against women. Instead, like NXNE, they’re cashing in on the controversy, and that’s shameful.

There are few better examples of extreme violence against women that Bronson’s video ‘Brunch’ (see below) where he is seen cooking over a battered dead woman. About a minute into the video, he stabs her with a box cutter while calling her a ‘scumbag bitch’ and ‘cunt’ before spitting on her corpse. He then drops the body in a river or lake and later cheers.

The surprising part about this is that some seem to be unphased by this. This is, after all, somewhat normal in rap and hip-hop, where women are often objectified and degraded. A friend of mine — who works for evenko — seemed nonplussed by my complaint that the promoter would consider hiring this artist. And this friend is a really good, salt-of-the-earth guy whom I admire quite a bit. So, seeing his reaction made me wonder, has the norm of misogyny in rap and hip-hop blinded us to this? What if, instead of the corpse of a woman being stabbed and called a scumbag bitch and cunt, it was the corpse of a black man being called a nigger, or a homosexual being called a faggot (Bronson has also said some pretty horrible things about transgender people). I suspect that in this case, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Not only would this be extremely distasteful to even the most cynical promoters, Bronson would probably have a problem just crossing the border.

So, this leaves me with these questions: Why is it that we accept this sort of violence towards women — half of the people on this planet — when it would be clearly unacceptable to any other disadvantaged group? Haven’t we had enough of this?

My friend’s response to my complaint – “Don’t like him? Don’t go”. I couldn’t agree more, and I hope that many others will do the same.

On a positive note, there is still hope that things can improve. Hip-hop/R&B artist Jidenna, who was recently signed on Janelle Monáe’s label Wondaland Records, leads by example. In his video ‘Classic Man’ (see below), not only is he classic, but classy. Watch the video for the amazing dress and style, watch it again for the total lack of ‘bitches and hoes’ – “the ladies on my elbow ain’t for the show”. This is how real men behave.

About Christopher Murtagh

These are the writings of Christopher Murtagh (me), a musician with years of classical and jazz training and education in computer science who has made a career in technology – mostly with open source software.

Back in CEGEP, I took my first philosophy course while I was studying pure and applied sciences and immediately fell in love. I have since returned to university part time to pursue philosophy just for the love of it. The word ‘philoxopher’ is a portmanteau of philosophy and xopher, the latter being an pseudonym that I have used on Facebook, my blog (xopher.ca), and numerous other spaces on the internet. Many of my friends call me ‘X’, or ‘zofer’. While I’m moving away from ‘Xopher’ now, I still really like philoxopher, and I am using it for my twitter handle, and possibly for other new things on the internet where ‘Christopher’ is taken (which is pretty much everywhere).

I believe in social justice, gender equity and equality, human rights for all regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality and/or creed. I believe in open access to health care and education for all, and that education is probably our society’s greatest tool for social advancement and progress. I believe that standing up for the weakest in our society isn’t merely an admirable pursuit, but a duty that befalls upon everyone – especially those who are in positions of privilege and power. I’m also aware that I am one of those people who has great privilege, and that I have a responsibility to use it for good. So, I will be definitely expressing these opinions, but I will be mindful of how I do it so that they will be heard and understood by as many as possible.

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I find it vile and am glad I’ve never had to listen to it, the lyrics shared on websites like this are more than enough to make me ill. I love your point about if instead of women the lyrics were about another minority. I’ve never thought of it that way. I do believe that feminists have decided to not speak out about it to avoid the backlash; threats, publicly slandered, abuse – you get the picture. I don’t know how anyone can consider him an artist, if heavy metal can get blamed for the columbine shooting instead of lax… Read more »

I’ve often wondered about this, too. I’m a middle-aged white guy with little to no interest in rap or rap culture, but I’ve heard enough to have heard the misogyny, and wondered why it seems to be accepted, or at least “allowed to be” by the feminist community. When I hear some of the more petty feminist complaints being taken up as a topic, I scratch my head. I’m guessing that the average white feminist is unwilling to attack a predominantly black cultural phenomenon on the grounds that they believe they have no right to speak up. Or maybe they… Read more »